Euro Bumpers

[jbd5015]

So ive been looking at the e24's on bigcoupe.com and i have been wondering if the euro bumpers could be swapped out for american bumpers? anyone tried this and how hard was it? and the last question would be where to find a set of euro bumpers, perhaps just only the front bumber, and all the side trim.
-jeff

[Sherman321]

I asked my friend about such a conversion. He said it required some cutting of the sheet metal. I dont know if he's right, but I dont think its as simple as bolt-on.

[jbd5015]

i was hoping it would be bolt-on, but i kinda figured that to look as good as the euro bumpers that it wouldnt be easy :(. what about a trimming down of the U.S. bumper. my friend and i chopped the 5mph bumpers down on his 74 2002tii, and it looked alot better, not as slim as the euro version, but at least there wasnt that 4 inch extension. some people say that the U.S. bumpers really saved their wallets when in a minor collision...can any attest to that?
-jeff

[Sherman321]

I can actually, last night I spun my M6 on a wet road (yeah it was really stupid on my part). I put it right into the guard rail, luckily i had enough control to put the rear bumper into it. No damage, except for the stroke I had when I thought about the possible damage. I was going to convert to euro or do a bumper tuck. I'm reconsidering that idea now.

So yes, the big ugly bumpers are good for something after all. But if you want them to be smaller looking, you can drill holes in the bumper shocks and drain the fluid. Push them in, and bingo, smaller bumpers. Might not be that easy, but my friend did it on his 325e and thats all he said he did. I assume thats what you did on the tii

[Prairieman]

My six series is a US car with front and rear euro bumpers. I did the conversion myself about 3 years ago.

The front is pretty much a bolt on deal, if you use the complete euro brackets, you will have to precisely locate the holes in the frame rail, which is the way I went. I was told you could adapt the US shocks to the euro bumper. but that approach would have required more work in my opinion.

The rear bumper was a lot of work. After removing the US bumper, holes from the side bellows had to be welded shut in each rear quarter panel. I had to massage the lower valance from the US bumper in order to make it fit the same place on the car but welded to the rear body. Finally, access holes had to be cut on the left and right side under the rear trunk area for access to tighten the rear euro bumper brackets after the stud holes had been located.

and last - I concur with the lack of integrity with euro bumpers. they are sheetmetal disguised as bumpers. But I love the way an E24 looks with euro bumpers, and I work very very hard never to use them as battering rams.

[Sherman321]

Yeah, no doubt the euro bumpers look a million times better. Thats the first time I've ever had any car I own touch anything other than pavement and I'm glad those ugly bumpers are good for something. Luckily the only damage was to my pride.

It may be due in part to the worthless TRX tires I have on it at the moment. The first thing on my to do list this week, BMW/BBS RS wheels and some GOOD tires.

I didnt know the front was so easy (sounding), I may have to look into the conversion myself one day. Any idea where some euro bumpers could be obtained?

[Prairieman]

it's a matter of watching and listening - e-bay, various dismantlers, forum classifieds, etc.

I found mine in a Roadfly classified, the seller owns an independant repair shop and also parts out cars.

good luck. let me know if you decide to dive in, I can give you additional details.

[Prairieman]

it's a matter of watching and listening - e-bay, various dismantlers, forum classifieds, etc.

I found mine in a Roadfly classified, the seller owns an independant repair shop and also parts out cars.

good luck. let me know if you decide to dive in, I can give you additional installation details.

[cj69xxl]

There are some extension (support)brackets wich u can fix them on the chasy (2 bolts each )the rear end and on the front u fix the euro bumper, u dont evan need those shocks wats on your car now Anyhow I just dismantled a 635 and i still have the bumper with the airdam The thing is that the air dam is fasten on the front of the bumper under the rubber guard my email is cj69xxl@yahoo ,write me so I can send u pics

[dm635]

i think the diving boards are less than pleasing to the eye and would love to convert to the euro style.but they do serve a purpose and repairing the nose section would be rather expensive.i've also considered the bumper tuck,but i'm leaving it as is for the protection they are designed for.

[The Beastmaster]

Also, there were a couple of different versions of the euro bumpers. One version had the regular filler area below the tail lights, while the other had bellows beneath them.

[640CSi]

I have a set of front and rear Euro bumpers in silver, with brand new unattached rubbers for the front, and all hardware. Plus matching side skirts, and front brackets. Email me @ gmzasztowt@hotmail.com if interested and for pics.
Mark

[640CSi]

I have a set of front and rear Euro bumpers in silver, with brand new unattached rubbers for the front, and all hardware. Plus matching side skirts, and front brackets. Email me @ gmzasztowt@hotmail.com if interested and for pics.
Mark

[jbd5015]

Any one have pics of a slimmed down u.s. bumper...the draining of the shocks method? I fell that will be the way i go, if i decide to do it, when i get a 6...:(.
-jeff

[Atom138]

My good friends father owns a custom car garage/offroad garage. And he has access to chromers aswell as he's a master fabricator. I was thinking of designing US/Euro bumper crossbreed. As in extending the chrome on the Us bumper all the way back to where it meets the grill. I'm doing this because I actually like the diving board look, its the black strip between the chrome and grill that kills me. I've never seen this done before and I think the broad chrome will mirror the entire front grill quite well.

[jbd5015]

That sounds quite interesting...keep us updated on your progress if you deicde to go ahead with that. Perhaps your friend can make a template for a piece that replaces the rubber so that we can get one made by another fabricator? I like the different ideas on customizing the bumpers.
-jeff

[dm635]

My good friends father owns a custom car garage/offroad garage. And he has access to chromers aswell as he's a master fabricator. I was thinking of designing US/Euro bumper crossbreed. As in extending the chrome on the Us bumper all the way back to where it meets the grill. I'm doing this because I actually like the diving board look, its the black strip between the chrome and grill that kills me. I've never seen this done before and I think the broad chrome will mirror the entire front grill quite well.
atom,one thing to consider is painting the bumper filler.mine is painted body color as well as the thin strip along the top of rear bumper.i'm considering painting the side bumper fillers as well.the only thing that appeals to me about the US spec bumpers,is the protection they provide.i'm not so concerned about my driving,it's the other idiots on the road.

[jbd5015]

What are the fillers made of. Is it just ABS plastic? and i guess if done correctly, that the painting of those fillers will end up looking like an 89 us model?
-jeff

[Sherman321]

how hard is it to install the 88 bumpers? they are a big improvement and look to provide some protection.

[dm635]

What are the fillers made of. Is it just ABS plastic? and i guess if done correctly, that the painting of those fillers will end up looking like an 89 us model?
-jeff
up to 87 the fronts are rubber with metal inside.the rears are like hard plastic(abs?)i've only seen 1 pic of another 6 where the rubber was painted.it looked good on the one i've seen,and the rest of the car was in great shape.i guess you could remove the reflector and smooth it out.

[jbd5015]

hmmm, i would be a little scared to paint rubber. Do you think it is the same stuff BMW used to make those squishy deck lid wings? I remember my friends 87 325is had one of those things, and 2 weeks after getting the car sprayed, the paint already had spider lines and cracks and what not.
-jeff

[cj69xxl]

jbd5015 is right ,spray paint over rubber or plastik will crack

[jbd5015]

I know that ABS plastic can be sprayed with quite nice looking results. I believe its just a sanding of the plastic and a special primer, but then any paint can be sprayed over it to look fine. But rubber is just kinda scary. I geuss i didnt mind the black bumper fillers on my e23 because the car was graphite metallic, and the black pieces didnt look bad next to the paint.
-jeff

[jbd5015]

What about making the fillers out of sheet metal/aluminum? Perhaps might be able to make the car look a little bit cleaner in the process.

[dm635]

i tried to fit a set of 88/89 front side fillers to my 86.don't know if you need the bumper,but you need the front filler,brackets,and they attach to the spoiler a little differently.i worked on them for countless hours and never got them to look right.
as for the rear spoiler rubber,i have an Mtech 2-piece spoiler that i started on last summer(not installed yet),but i got great results on the rubber part using satin black bumper paint.it was in terrible shape after sitting for years under a tree and being painted body color.

[jbd5015]

Ah, i would see that sprucing up the rubber with a bumper paint, i have used this stuff called "back to black" or something on some of my rubber and plastic parts and it worked all right, to take a picture for. after a few days the rubber was back to waht it was...so i just gave up on it.
-jeff